It’s 26th January once again and it’s time to commemorate India’s 68th Republic Day. It was on this day in 1950 when the Constitution of India came into effect and India became one of the most populous democracies in the world. It was this day that our nation became an independent republic. This time around the celebrations will veer around an unprecedented spectacle where leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries will be in attendance for the parade at Rajpath, probably in a show that is aimed to send a strong message to China. Republic Day will showcase the culturally-diverse parades and state-wise tableaux, the military might, besides the 21 gun salute and the unfurling of flag.
While the dust settles down on this mega event of dare-devilry and show of rich cultural heritage, it’s time for the citizens of India who are the building blocks to look deeper if the nation has lived up to its Constitution which is an all-encompassing document embracing diversity and upholding equality, justice, and liberty.
It wouldn’t take a mastermind to figure out that the atmosphere in the country in the past few months has been volatile, and fringe elements are having their way without any force to quell them. Issues from rapes, controversial movies, special Bills, etc have become subjects that are keeping sections of society raging and the government at the Centre seemingly taking the easy way out.
On top of his politics is Modi, who recently in his charismatic style heaped praise on the citizens of India for their contribution towards the growth of the country (he made sure no one was robbed of any credit); he had a clear vision of his plans for India for the next six years and everything that he spoke of revolved around his attempt to make India a perfect country that world could look up to. That’s the rosy picture of his party’s role in the country but it has an equal share of despair, something that the PM gave a miss.
While India commemorates its 68th Republic day, there’s this dark underbelly of one of biggest democracies which lays exposed. The atrocities on women, the increasing number of horrifying rapes that repeatedly shake the nation; murders and sexual assault on children, especially girls, who are left to die, the recent crimes in schools and the countless gruesome murders that continue unabated. India as a nation has failed to address these issues which make one’s soul cringe.
The economy growth figures and the financials may make interesting reading, but there are big issues that have been threatening the peace. It’s not the heated exchanges against Pakistan or China, but battles that are fought within and which threaten to destroy the communal harmony. Where cow-related crimes are being milked for political gains, where fringe groups have gone berserk in the name of protecting the animal to an extent where people are being killed in the name of religion. Where ‘Hindu rashtra’ is being boldly preached in an independent and free India, and not a soul moves.
It’s time to shun politics and reflect deeply on the Constitution and our commitments to nation-building.
